A day in the life of a Personal Trainer

It takes far more to become a personal trainer than a love of the gym and good nutritional habits. You need to be a great communicator, with a passion for helping others. In this article we will break down what you'll have to do on a daily basis when working in the business.

Training

Training clients will take up the majority of your working day. But it's not always as simple as writing down a list of exercises and making sure they are performing them with the right posture and technique. You may have to tailor exercises around specific injuries or health problems. Patience is a virtue; some people will struggle to stay on track, but you mustn't let that stop you from striving for excellence. A standard PT session involves a warm up, workout and cool down. You'll also have to offer encouragement and actionable advice along the way to ensure your clients feel satisfied.

In order to prove your worth and convince gym members to purchase your services, you must also be able to demonstrate your worth. While you don't necessarily need to look a certain way, you should make regular appearances in your gym to show members that you not only have the knowledge, but live by your words. Setting aside an hour or two to train is a must.

Administration

Organisation is key. Clients will expect a detailed and thorough workout plan that's specifically tailored to their physicality and personal goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Before each day you will have to set aside time in advance to plan your sessions, detailing which exercises you will tackle and why. You will spend a few hours of your working day also performing other administrative duties, such as invoicing, accounting and following up on enquiries.

Finding Clients

When you're starting out as a personal trainer you will need to find clients. Taking exercise classes, working the gym floor, and showing your face is crucial. The PT profession is based on referrals; therefore, it's absolutely essential to always remain enthusiastic and give it your all. One happy client can lead to lucrative opportunities, so being friendly and approachable, both inside and outside of working hours, is very important. Fitness classes provide a steady and secure source of income. While you may prefer the one-to-one approach, a class can be a viable source of revenue.

Keeping Updated

Personal training is a highly specialised profession that requires constant attention. You will not only need to regularly read the latest health and fitness journals and academic studies, but will need to stay abreast with the latest trends and fad-diets, be it to debunk myths and warn clients, or add them into your routines. Most personal trainers will set aside a couple hours during the evenings for studies. Extracurricular courses in specific popular activities, such as Olympic lifting and Cross Cage, may also be highly beneficial in order to broaden your client base and keep sessions fresh and interesting.

If you want to become a personal trainer, courses are merely the first step. You will have to solidify your craft, maintain a good reputation and be willing to go the extra mile to help clients. While it can take time to develop a secure and steady income, it can be extremely rewarding when you finally get there.

Want to become a personal trainer? Browse our courses and get in touch with Lifetime today.